The Belle Meade Bourbon Craftsman Cask Collection is a series of unique, almost experimental, cask-finished Bourbons done in extremely limited quantities with most being only a single barrel’s worth of spirit.Belle Meade Bourbon

WORTH THE PRICE: My 100ml bottle was a press sample that, believe it or not, was more than enough to sell me on the $150 bottle.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle certainly. Sadly, with such a limited 288-bottle release, you may never see it at a bar.

OVERALL: : I was wowed by the Belle Meade Cognac cask finish bourbon released two years ago, but this exceeds that. When too many distilleries are using cask finishing to cover up flaws in subpar source material, Andy and Charlie Nelson are demonstrating their ample talents for using well-aged liquid and amplifying it with cask finishing. I’m not the usual $150 bottle buyer, but I’d wait in line for this bourbon if I could. Problem is, it’s only available at the Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville. Buyers are limited to one bottle, but if someone could get two, drink one now and save the other, do it. This is too exciting a whiskey to shelve, but it’s also a whiskey to be saved for celebrations.

Total Bottled: 288 bottles
Proof: 117.8
Time in Mourvedre Cask: 148 days

Belle Meade Bourbon Mourvèdre Cask Finish: Mourvèdre is one of the primary grapes grown by Withers Winery in the Sierra Foothills. Owner Andrew Tow has been a fan of Belle Meade Bourbon since day one, and when he sent Andy and Charlie a Mourvèdre cask, the brothers knew something special was about to happen. This 10-year-old Bourbon was rested 148 days in a single Mourvèdre cask for a smooth, round, and bursting-with-flavor cask finish. There are only 288 total bottles of this exclusive 117-proof Bourbon available, marking the launch of the Craftsman Cask Collection.

Tasting Notes

Finish: Very long and accentuated by baking spices and cedar atop a bed of dark fruit and caramel.

Disclaimer: Belle Meade Bourbon provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

About the Author

Steve Coomes

Steve Coomes is an award-winning Louisville restaurant industry veteran turned food writer. In his 27-year career, he has edited and written for dozens of national trade and consumer publications including Nation's Restaurant News, Southern Living, Whisky magazine, WhiskeyWash.com and many more. In 2014, he authored the book, "Country Ham: A Southern Tradition of Hogs, Salt & Smoke," and has authored other titles as a private ghostwriter.

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